Measuring instrument



Feb. 6, 1945. G. w. BARNES, JR

MEASURING INSTRUMENT Filed Nov. 2, 1943 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG. 2

INVENTOR. GEORGE W. BARNES JR.

Feb. 6, 1945 e. w. BARNES, JR 2,363,912

MEASURING INSTRUMENT Filed Nov. 2, 1943 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. 3

INIVENTOR.

GEORGE W. BARNES JR.

Feb. 6, 1945. e w B E JR A MEASURING INSTRUMENT I Filed Nov. 2, 1945 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 "mum" mu 0 v IN VEN TOR.

GEORGE W. BARNES JR- "ure 3,

r and Patented Feb. 6, 1945 UNITED STATES PATENT ()FFICE MEASURING INSTRUMENT George W. Barnes, Jr., Clifton Heights, Pa., as-

signor to The Brown Instrument Company, Philadelphia,'Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application November 2, 1943, Serial No. 508,740

(Cl. I'll-95) 10 Claims.

trol the input voltage either directly or indirectly orwhich may be totally unrelated thereto.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a simple, compact instrument with a minimum of moving parts,- and one in which all of the parts, both electrical and mechanical, which changing medium is flowing. It will be obvious to those skilled in the art, however, that the instrument could be made to respond to an electrical input fromany source and could be made to operate any desired device in response thereto.

The various features of novelty which characterize my invention are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this specification. For a better understanding of the invention, however, its advantages and specific objects obtained with its use, reference should be had to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which I have illustrated and described a preferred embodiment of the invention.

In the drawings: Figure 1 shows a control system,

Figure 2 is a wiring diagram;

Figure 3 is. a view. of the instrument with the cover removed showing the location of the various parts. 1 Figure 4 is a view taken on line '4-4 of E18- Figure 5 is a view of. the inside of the cover,

(Figure 6 is a view or the valve and its operating gear.

Referring first to Figure 1, there is shown a heater I that is supplied with a temperature changing fluid, which may be either fuel or steam, through a pipe 2. pipe 2 is controlled by a valve 3 that is operated directly by the instrument 4 of the present invention. As shown herein, the temperature of the furnace is measured-by means of a thermocouple 5 that is connected by a suitable cable to the instrument 4 and to a conversion and amplifier unit 6. This latter unit is connected to the instrument 4 and both of them are connectved to a power supply by suitable electric conductors being. shown in cable form.

In Figure 2 there is shown a typical potentiometer circuit in which there is a slide-wire 7 that has a potential drop impressed across it by a battery 8 to produce a predetermined voltage drop; the battery preferably being in the form of a dry cell. Connected in circuit with the battery is a variable resistance Sthat is used to maintain constant the potential drop across the slide-wire l as the battery diminishes in power, in order to maintain the system in calibration. The voltage from the thermocouple 5 is impressed across a portion of the slide-wire l as determined by the positionof a contact ll between the slidewire and a parallel collector bar 12. the potentiometer circuit becomes unbalanced and this in turn is detected by the converter and amplifier unit 8 to energize a motor 16 to shift the contact H along the slidewire. in the proper direction and an'amount to rebalance the potentiometer circuit. The details of the convertor and amplifier unit form no part of the present invention and are disclosed iii the copending application of Walter P. Wills, Serial No. 421,173 and which was-filed on December 1, 1941.

. The thermocouple is'normally connected in the circuit by means of a switch l3 which consists of the'type disclosed, upon the occurrence of a change in the temperature of the thermocouple 5 the potentiometer circuit will be unbalanced to v cause a current flow therein. The convertor and amplifier unit will detect the direction and 5 amount of this current flow, and correspondingly energize the motor 16 for rotation in one'direction or the other. This motor is mechanically connected with the contact I l, in a manner to be described, so that the contact is shifted along theslidewire l and collector ii to aposition in The flow of fuel through the As the thermocouple temperature changeswhich the potentiometer circuit is again balanced and no current flows in the circuit.

Due to the fact that the strength of battery I gradually diminishes with use it becomes necessary to adjust the resistance 9 from time to time in order to maintain the calibration of the instrument. At such times as the instrument is to be recalibrated or standardized, the movable contacts I4 and II of the switch I3 are Pushed to the right to disconnect the thermocouple from the circuit to insert a standard cell l1 across a portion thereof and to simultaneously insert a shunt II around the unit 8. If the circuit needs recalibration a current flow will be set up in a manner similar to that produced by the thermocouple I, producing an energization and rotation of the motor ll in a direction an amount proportional to potentiometer unbalance at that time. This rotation of the motor is used to produce an adjustment of the resistance 9 by means which connects the resistance adjusting means to motor Ii when the thermocouple is removed from the potentiometer circuit and the standard cell is connected therein. The details of this will be described below.

It will also be seen from Figure 2 that the potentiometer circuit has in it various other resistances that are necessary for its calibration and operation. In addition, the motor has connected in circuit with it some condensers. These resistances and condensers along with the batten 3 and standard cell II are all located in the instrument 4 in a compact and space saving arrangement.

As shown in Figure 4 oi the drawings, the mechanism of the instrument 4 is mounted in a casing that consists of a casting forming a-supporting plate 2| and a cup-shaped cover 22 that is hinged thereto on the left side in Figure 1-. The edge of the cover is provided with a depression which receives a gasket 23 that cooperates with the base 2| to make the casing dust tight. The cover is held in closed position by means of a pair of knobs 24 which have screw threaded projections on them that extend through the cover and are received by lugs 25 on the Plate 2|.

A casting 29 upon which various of the parts are mounted is fastened to the plate 2i in spaced relation thereto. The casting is formed with an arcuate shoulder 21 on it that receives and supports a similarly shaped member 24 of insulating material upon which the slide wire I and collector I! are mounted.

A pair of bearings 29 and 31 are mounted in the casting 29 and plate 2|, respectively, concentric with the slidewire support. Supported in these bearings is a shaft 32 that has on it, between the plate 2| and casting 29, a gear 33. This shaft is driven through its gear 33 bymeans of a pinion 34 that is driven by motor It. The

. pinion is fixed to the shaft of motor l9, which shaft extends through the casting 24 so that the pinion is on the right side thereof while the motor is mounted On the left side of the casting as shown in Figure 3. As the motor it rotates due to unbalance of the potentiometer circuit it rotates the gear 33 and simultaneously moves the contact H along the slide wire. This is accomplished by mounting the contact II on a spring support 35 that is attached tothe bent over end of an arm 33 which is fastened to the gear. Ro-

tation of the motor and arm." are limited in a clockwise direction by engagement of a member 31 that. is fastened to-the gear 33 and a stop with the slidewire l I.

member 38 which surrounds and protects the pinion 34. Rotation of the arm in a counterclockwise direction is limited by engagement of a second member 39 with the other end of the. stop 39. These members 31 and 39 are so placed on the gear 33 that it is permitted to rotate through approximately which is equal to the are covered by the slidewire and collector member.

An indication is given of the position of the contact H and of the value of the condition bein measured by means of the rotative position of a disc 4| that is mounted on a shaft 42 which has a gear 43 on it that meshes with and is driven by the gear 33. The shaft 42 is rotatably mounted in a bushing 44 that is mounted in the casting 26 and a second bushing 45 that is fastened in a tubular extension 45 of the casting. A cover for the indicating disc 4| is formed by a conical flange 41 extending from the bushing 45 and a, transparent plate 48 that is fastened to the flange 41. It is noted that the cover 22 also has a window 49 in it coaxial with the plate 49 so that indicating disc 4i may be seen when the cover is closed. In order to take up any back-lash in the gears there is provided a helical spring 50 which surrounds the shaft 42. This spring is maintained under tension at all times and has one end extending into a collar 5| on the shaft 42 and has its other end extending into the bushing 45.

As the motor l5 rotates in response to potentiometer unbalance to adjust the contact ii and disc 4i, it also adjusts the valve 3 in pipe 2.

This is accomplished by attaching a gear 52 to an extension of the shaft 32 that extends rearwardly of the instrument casing through the plate 2 I. This gear meshes with a rack 93 on the valve stem. I

In order to provide an adjustable control point in the instrument so that the temperature of the heater I may be controlled to different values, the potentiometer circuit is provided with a pair of adjustable resistors 54 and 55 that are in series These resistors are simultaneously adjusted by a knob 56 to change the potential distribution along the slidewire and therefore the point to which the instrument will adjust the valve for a given heater temp rature. As shown in Figure 3, the knob 56 is mounted on the casting 26 and is provided with temperature graduations and cooperates with a member 51 to indicate the control point for which the instrument is adjusted' Other ways may be provided to adjust the control point ii desired.

The standardizing resistance 9 is also adjusted automatically by the motor It at such times as the leaves l4 and I5. of the switch l3 are moved to the right in Figure 2. As shown in Figures 3 and 4 of the drawings, the resistance 9 comprises a pair of independent resistance elements 93 and 59 that are mounted for rotation on a sleeve II which is supported coaxially with the shaft 32 by a bracket 62 fastened to the casting 24. In

operation the element 58 ispositively moved and serves to move the .element 59 through a lostmotion connection consisting of a pin 43 pro- Jecting from element 59 through a short, arcuate 66 and both of which are biased to the left in Figure 3 by a spring 61. The shaft 68 is rotat ably mountedin the sleeve SI and carries on its right end a cam member 68 that has a flange 69 formed on it. The shaft, disc and cam member are normally rotated when the motor I6 is energized by means of engagement between the sides of a notch formed in flange 69 and a pin II that projects from a collar I2 which is attached to the left end of the shaft 32.

' In operation of the standardizing mechanism the shaft 66 is moved to the right to bring the right face of the clutch disc 65 into engagement with the left face of the element 58 so that the latter will be driven by the former. As this takes place the pin II will slide along the notch in flange 69 so that the drive between shafts 32 and shown in Figure 3, upward movement ofthe member 13 will operate the switch in a known manner. It is noted-that the switch 9 is mounted in a position above the cam 68 by meansof a portion of the bracket 52 as best shown in Figure 3.

The shaft 66 can be moved to the right to produce the standardizing operation either by pressing the leftend of the shaft, if the cover 22' is open, or by pressing a button T4 on the cover if the latteris closed. The button is mounted for sliding movement in the door in a position coaxial with shaft 66. Normally the button 14 is held in its left position as shown in Figure 4 by a'spring When the standard cell I'l'is connected in the potentiometer circuit the circuit will be unbalanced an amount depending upon how. much the voltage of dry cell 8 has diminished. The autoaseacra left portion. The dry ce1l is adjacent the left of the cover inFigure to leave room for the lead in plugs 19 and 80 through which wires connecting the instrument with the amplifier, thermocouple and power supply may be brought. .Also

located in the cover is a compartment 8| in which the various resistors of the circuit are all located together.

The various compartments provided as they are 'for the components of the instrument permit each part to be readily accessible for adjustment and replacement when necessary. Having covers for each of the compartments increases the safety of the instrument as well as providing additionalprotection to prevent contamination of the parts by dirt when the cover is opened. The instrument is unusually compact and rugged While in accordance with the proviv ons of the statutes, I have illustrated and described thebest form of my invention now known to me, "t' 'will be apparent to those skilled in the art changes may be made in the form of the apparatus disclosed without departing from the spirit of my invention as set forth in the appended claims, and that in some cases certain features of my invention may sometimes be used to advantage without a corresponding use of other features.

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

' l. A measuring instrument comprising a balanceable electrical network having a plurality of component parts including a slidewire, a contact moving in engagement with said slidewire and a standardizing resistance, a casing including a cover enclosing the various component parts; a

matic rebalancing of the circuit will then adjust the resistance 9 enough to recalibrate the circuit. This movement of shaft 32 will make an adjustment of the valve 3 that is not in accordance with temperature changes, but the movement is so small that itwill have no appreciable effect on the flow past the valve. It is noted'that the more frequently the standardizing operation is performed, the smaller the movement imparted to thevalve each time. In the drawings the various wiresthat extend f between the parts have been omitted for the sake of clarity. The parts, however, are hooked up in motor also in said casing operable in response to network unbalance to move said contact relative to said slidewire to a position in which said network is rebalanced, a shaft driven by said motor, means to mount said standardizing resistance coaxial with said shaft, disengageable drive means coaxial with said shaft and standardizing resistance to drivethe latter from the former, and

means located in said cover and operable from the exterior thereof to engage said disengageable drive means whereby said standardizing resistance may be driven by said shaft.-

. in engagement with said slidewire, means to rothe manner shownin the wiring diagram of Figure 2.- Provision has been made for mounting on either the cover or the casting 26 all of the components of the potentiometer circuit as well as those mechanical elements that have been deascribed. On the upper part or the casting to the right 'of'the indicator 4| is located a-compartment I6 in which the condensers for the motor are located. Next to this compartment is anceives the standard cell [1, while a strap I8 is proother compartment l'l in which is located a tertate said shaft to move said contact to various positions along said slidewire, a variable resistance mounted coaxially with said shaft, adjusting means for said resistance including a second shaft coaxial with said first mentioned shaft and driven thereby, and a. clutch between said second shaft and said resistance whereby said second shaft may adjust said resistance if said clutch is closed.

3. In an electrical measuring instrument, a support, a curved slide-wire on said support, a shaft Journaled in said support and concentric with said slide-wire, a contact, means on said shaft including a gear to support said contact in engagement with said slidewire to be moved across the same as said shaft is rotated, a bracket extending from one side of said support,'a variable resistance mounted on said bracket coaxial with said shaft, a second shaft slidably and roshaft, means to rotate said second shaftfrom vided to hold the dry cell 8 in place in the lower 7 said first shaft, clutch means on said second shaft to adjust said variable resistance, and resilient means to normally slide said second shaft to a position in which said clutch is open.

4. The combination of claim 3 including a cover pivoted to said support and acting to cover the mechanism mounted thereon, and means mounted in said cover to slide said second shaft against the force of said resilience means to a position in which said clutch is closed.

5. In a measuring instrument, -a-support,' a

, shaft rotatable in said support, a curved slidewire mounted on said support concentric with said shaft, a contact. means to move said contact across said slidewire by said shaft, a bracket ing said second shaft to be rotated by said first shaft when the latter rotates and means to ro-.'

tate one of said discs from the other.

6. In a self-balancing measuring instrument a support, a curved slidewire mounted thereon, a shaft rotatably mounted in said support concentric with said slidewire, a contact mounted on said. shaft and engaging with' said slidewire, means to rotate said shaft and shift said contact along said slidewire, means to indicate the position of said contact including a. second shaft parallel to said first shaft, a support in which said second shaft is journaled, an indicating member on said second shaft, gearing between said shafts, and resilient means always under tension surrounding said second shaft and acting. on said second shaft and said support and operative to remove any back lash in said gearing whereby theposition of said member will truly indicate the position of said contact.

4 .7. In a measuring instrument, a support, a

curved slidewire mounted on said support, a shaft rotatably mounted in said support, concentric with said slidewire, .a contact in engagement with said slidewire, means including a first gear to move said contact relative to said slidewire upon rotation of said shaft, a tubular projection extending from said support, a second shaft jourlnaled for rotation in said projection, an indicat-. ing member on said second shaft, a second gear on said second shaft meshing with said first gear whereby rotation of said first shaft to move said contact ill also rotate said second-shaft to correspondingly move said member, and means to prevent play between said gears including a hellcal spring surrounding said second shaft and within said-projection, said spring having one end attached to said second shaft and one end attached to said projection.

aseaais 8. A measuring instrument comprising a balanceable electrical network having a plurality of component parts including a slidewire, a contact moving in engagement with said slidewire and 5 a standardizing resistance, a casing including a cover enclosing the various component parts, motor means also in said casing and operable in response to network unbalance to move said contact relative to said slidewire to a position in which saidnetwork is rebalanced, a first shaft driven by said motor, a second shaft, means to stall times drive said second shaft from said first shaft, means to *mount said standardizing I resistance coaxial with said second shaft, disengageable drive means coaxial with said second shaft and standardizing resistance to drive the latter from the former, and means located in said coverand operable from the exterior thereof to engage said disengageable drive means. whereby said standardizing resistance may be driven from said second shaft.

9. In a potentiometer type contml instrument, a casing including a cover for said instrument, a balanceable potentiometer network including a slidewire, a contact movable over said slidewire, a battery to impress a potential on said slidewire and a standard cell to check said potential, said parts being enclosed in said casing, a condition responsive means connected to said network and located outside of said casing, a shaft connected to relatively move said slidewire and contact, motor mean's operative upon unbalance of said network to .rotate said shaft to relatively move said slidewire and contact to rebalance said network, said shaft extending through an opening in said casing, control means for the condition to which said condition responsive means is responsive, and means mounted-directly on the extending end of said shaft to adjust directly said control means.

10. A compact self-balancing type potentiometer control instrument comprising a casing having a movable cover, a potentiometer network including a slidewire, a contact for said slide- 5 wire, a battery to impress a potential on said slidewire, a standard cell and a plurality of resistances, means to mount each of the partsincluded in said network in said casing, a motor mounted in said casing and engaged for rotation 50 in one direction or an opposite direction depending upon unbalance of said potentiometer network, a shaft rotated by said motor to move said contact along said slidewire, connecting means between said shaft and said contact, a portion 55 of said shaft extending through an opening in said casing, a condition responsive element located outside of said casing and connected to said potentiometer network, a condition adjusting means to adjust'the condition to which said no element is responsive, and means directly connected to the extending portion of said shaft to operate said condition adjusting means as said shaft rotates.

- GEORGE W. BARNES, Ja. 

